• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of Opuntia humifusa (OH) stems. OH stems were extracted with hexane, methanol, butanol and water. The methanol and hexane fraction exhibited strong antimicrobial activities on three strains of microbes, Rhodococcus equi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens. In the peroxynitrite scavenging effect ($ONOO^-$) of OH stems, the antioxidative activity of methanol, butanol and water fraction but not hexane fraction showed significant increases in a concentration-dependent manner. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of OH stems were high in the butanol fraction compared with other fractions. Anti-proliferation effects on the B16-F10, HepG2, HT29, and MCF-7 cell lines were significantly higher in the methanol and hexane fractions than in the water and butanol fractions at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration of extracts. These results suggest that OH stems can be used for the development of functional foods with biological activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.742-747
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• 2012

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used for heart failure therapy and promotes myocardial regeneration by inducing mobilization of bone marrow stem cells to the injured heart after myocardial infarction; however, this treatment has one weakness in that its biological effect is transient. In our previous report, we generated 5 mutants harboring N-linked glycosylation to improve its antiapoptotic activities. Among them, one mutant (Phe140Asn) had higher cell viability than wild-type hG-CSF in rat cardiomyocytes, even after treatment with an apoptotic agent ($H_2O_2$). Cells treated with this mutant significantly upregulated the antiapoptotic proteins, and experienced reductions in caspase 3 activity and PARP cleavage. Moreover, the total number of apoptotic cells was dramatically lower in cultures treated with mutant hG-CSF. Taken together, these results suggest that the addition of an N-linked glycosylation was successful in improving the antiapoptotic activity of hG-CSF, and that this mutated product will be a feasible therapy for patients who have experienced heart failure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.672-679
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• 2020

Distal myopathy is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of degenerative diseases of the distal muscle. Glycogen storage disease type IXD (GSD9D) is a metabolic distal myopathy characterized by muscle deficiency of phosphorylase kinase, a key regulatory enzyme in glycogen metabolism. Affected individuals may develop muscle weakness, degeneration, and cramps, as well as abnormal muscle pain and stiffness after exercise. It has been reported that mutations in the PHKA1 gene which encodes the alpha subunit of muscle phosphorylase kinase cause GSD9D. In this study, we examined a Korean GSD9D family with a c.3314T>C (p.I1105T) mutation in the PHKA1 gene. This mutation has not been previously reported in any mutation database nor was it found in 500 healthy controls. The mutation region is well conserved in various other species, and in silico analysis predicts that it is likely to be pathogenic. To date, only seven mutations in the PHKA1 gene have been documented, and this is the first report of Korean GSD9D patients. This study also describes and compares the clinical symptoms and pathological conditions of previously reported cases and these Korean patients. We believe that our findings will be useful for the molecular diagnosis of GSD9D.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2012

This study was carried out to examine the effects of foliar-sprayed diniconazole on the morphological characteristics and the contents of polyamines (PA) and proline, and to investigate their relationship with stress tolerance in Lilium davuricum native to Korea. Plants with 5 cm mean height were sprayed with $50mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ diniconazole or distilled water (control) and grown in a greenhouse maintained at 23/$18^{\circ}C$ (day/night) for 30 days. Diniconazole decreased plant height, leaf length, diameter and length of the pith and cortical cell of the stem, while it increased the thickness and epicuticular wax of leaves measured at 30 days after treatment. In polyamines contents, diniconazole increased spermidine content at 5-10 days after treatment and spermine content after the 10th day of treatment as compared with the control. Diniconazole decreased proline content after the 10th day of treatment as compared with the control. From these results, it was concluded that foliar-sprayed diniconazole might morphologically and biochemically improve the stress tolerance of this plant species.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2013

This study was carried out to examine a molecular marker system for parentage test in Jeju Black cattle (JBC). Based on the preliminarily studies, we finally selected for construction of a novel genetic marker system for molecular traceability, identity test, breed certification, and parentage test in JBC and its related industrial populations. The genetic marker system had eight MS markers, five indel markers, and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; g.G299T and g.del310G) within MC1R gene which is critical to verify the breed specific genotypes for coat color of JBC differing from those of exotic black cattle breeds such as Holstein and Angus. The results showed lower level of a combined non-exclusion probability for second parent (NE-P2) of $4.1202{\times}10^{-4}$ than those previously recommended by International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) of $5.000{\times}10^{-4}$ for parentage, and a combined non-exclusion probability for sib identity (NE-SI) of $2.679{\times}10^{-5}$. Parentage analysis has been successfully identified the JBC offspring in the indigenous population and cattle farms used the certified AI semens for production using the JBC-derived offspring for commercial beef. This combined molecular marker system will be helpful to supply genetic information for parentage test and traceability and to develop the molecular breeding system for improvement of animal productivity in JBC population.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2006

Crown gall on lower stem of weeping fig(Ficus benjamina Roxb.) was first observed at Daejon in 2003. Tumors were about 15 cm in size and semi-round with rough surface texture of dark brown color. Two virulent isolates among ten bacteria isolated from the tumor tissues were characterized. Their colonies were convex, glistening, circular with an entire edge, and white or tannish cream in color on potato dextrose agar supplemented with 0.5% $CaCO_3$. They were rod shape with peritrichous flagellae, gram-negative, aerobic growth, oxidase-positive, and grew on D1M agar. The isolates were identified as Agrobacterium larrymoorei and A. tumefaciens based on biochemical and physiological characteristics, fatty acid profiles and substrate utilization patterns. Seedlings of some host plants excepting grapevine produced typical galls two to three weeks after inoculation with cell suspensions of the virulent strains. This is the first report on crown gall of weeping fig in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.488-500
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the protocols for superstimulation of follicular growth in Thai native heifers. Heifers (n = 20) were randomly divided into four groups of five heifers/group. Heifers were given a single dose by i.m. administration of 100 mg Follicle Stimulating Hormone dissolved in polyvinylpyrrolidone (FSHp) at 24 h. Ovum pick up (OPU) occurred at 72 h ($F_{24}O_{72}$ protocol; Group 1) or 96 h ($F_{24}O_{96}$ protocol; Group 2), and at 36 h and OPU at 72 h ($F_{36}O_{72}$ protocol; Group 3) or 96 h ($F_{36}O_{96}$ protocol; Group 4) after follicular ablation. The dynamics of ovarian follicular growth were monitored by twice-daily ultrasonographic examinations. Blood sample collections were performed every 12 h after initiation of treatment for assessment of FSH, E2 and P4 profiles. All heifers were subjected to eight repeated sequential sessions of OPU. The follicular deviation commenced $24{\pm}5.32$ h after follicular ablation in all groups. The circulatory FSH surged quickly from 24 to 36 h (>0.8 ng/ml) after follicular ablation and circulatory estrogen levels steadily increased from 36 h until OPU in all groups. At the end of the OPU sessions, the mean number of aspirated follicles/heifer/session in $F_{36}O_{72}$ protocol (Group 3) and $F_{36}O_{96}$ protocol (Group 4) were higher than in the two other groups (p<0.05). The number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), cleaved and day 8 blastocysts rates in the $F_{36}O_{72}$ protocol (Group 3) were higher than in the other groups (p<0.05). It can be concluded that a single dose i.m. administration of 100 mg FSHp at 36 h and OPU at 72 h after follicular ablation ($F_{36}O_{72}$ protocol; Group 3) was the most effective protocol for superstimulation of follicular growth for repeated OPU and subsequent in vitro embryo production in Thai native heifers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5013-5018
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• 2015

Background: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by proliferation of one or more myeloid lineages. Polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are classical Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative MPN that have a Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) mutation, especially JAK2V617F in the majority of patients. The major complications of Ph-negative MPNs are thrombosis, hemorrhage, and leukemic transformation. Objective: To study clinical manifestations including symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, and JAK2V617F mutations of Ph-negative MPN (PV, ET and PMF) as well as their complications. Materials and Methods: All Ph-negative MPN (PV, ET and PMF) patients who attended the Hematology Clinic at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from January, 1 2003 through December, 31 2013 were retrospectively reviewed for demographic data, clinical characteristics, complete blood count, JAK2V617F mutation analysis, treatment, and complications. Results: One hundred and fifty seven patients were included in the study. They were classified as PV, ET and PMF for 68, 83 and 6 with median ages of 60, 61, and 68 years, respectively. JAK2V617F mutations were detected in 88%, 69%, and 100% of PV, ET and PMF patients. PV had the highest incidence of thrombosis (PV 29%, ET 14%, and PMF 0%) that occurred in both arterial and venous sites whereas PMF had the highest incidence of bleeding (PMF 17%, ET 11%, and PV 7%). During follow up, there was one ET patient that transformed to acute leukemia and five cases that developed thrombosis (three ET and two PV patients). No secondary myelofibrosis and death cases were encountered. Conclusions: Ph-negative MPNs have various clinical manifestations. JAK2V617F mutations are present in the majority of PV, ET, and PMF patients. This study confirmed that thrombosis and bleeding are the most significant complications in patients with Ph-negative MPN.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2020

This study was conducted to find proper material of brushing stimulation for height suppression of tomato plug seedlings. The tomato seeds were sown in 40-cell plug tray filled with commercial seedling medium and brushing stimulation was started at 18 days after sowing. Acrylic, polypropylene film, and weaving film were used by materials of brushing stimulation and, non-treatment and diniconazole treatment were used as the control. In acrylic treatment, the plant height was the shortest and the stem diameter was the thickest. Leaf growth was the lowest in diniconazole treatment. However, the SPAD value was the greatest in diniconazole treatment. The dwarf rate was the greatest in acrylic treatment. In acrylic treatment, the T/R ratio was the lowest and compactness was the greatest. In conclusion, use of the acrylic as material for brushing stimulation has higher dwarf rate than diniconazole treatment, and has advantages height suppression and seedling quality.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.9.1-9.6
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• 2009

Introduction: In the mass spectrometry-based proteomics, biological samples are analyzed to identify proteins by mass spectrometer and database search. Database search is the process to select the best matches to the experimental mass spectra among the amino acid sequence database and we identify the protein as the matched sequence. The match score is defined to find the matches from the database and declare the highest scored hit as the most probable protein. According to the score definition, search result varies. In this study, the difference among search results of different search engines or different databases was investigated, in order to suggest a better way to identify more proteins with higher reliability. Materials and Methods: The protein extract of human mesenchymal stem cell was separated by several bands by one-dimensional electrophorysis. One-dimensional gel was excised one by one, digested by trypsin and analyzed by a mass spectrometer, FT LTQ. The tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of peptide ions were applied to the database search of X!Tandem, Mascot and Sequest search engines with IPI human database and SwissProt database. The search result was filtered by several threshold probability values of the Trans-Proteomic Pipeline (TPP) of the Institute for Systems Biology. The analysis of the output which was generated from TPP was performed. Results and Discussion: For each MS/MS spectrum, the peptide sequences which were identified from different conditions such as search engines, threshold probability, and sequence database were compared. The main difference of peptide identification at high threshold probability was caused by not the difference of sequence database but the difference of the score. As the threshold probability decreases, the missed peptides appeared. Conversely, in the extremely high threshold level, we missed many true assignments. Conclusion and Prospects: The different identification result of the search engines was mainly caused by the different scoring algorithms. Usually in proteomics high-scored peptides are selected and low-scored peptides are discarded. Many of them are true negatives. By integrating the search results from different parameter and different search engines, the protein identification process can be improved.